sharing

We’ve been cooped up for years. Okay, that’s an exaggeration but sometimes the long days feel like years. The cold weather keeps us in and the lack of things to do with a large family, keeps us away from things. Let’s just say, it’s never a good idea to take 5 children into a place like an arcade. It never, ever ends well. So except for a couple of playdates and pre planned adventures, we’ve mostly been throwing the football inside the house (grumble) and watching crap TV. Oh and eating.

I like to take the cold days and bake. The oven helps keep our kitchen warm. It never seems to stay that way. Who ever built the house’s addition, I don’t think they insulated it properly. Everyone loves the bread. We made two loaves yesterday. One was lovely and the other was like a soapy lemon bar. Barf. It called for Lemon Essential Oils, and I added way to much.

The kids cleaned up to the good loaf in about 27 seconds. Completely warm, covered in butter and honey. Knowing how much they love it, I want to make it for them every day. A labor of love. Unfortunately, I only have enough honey for one more loaf till grocery day. Luckily, well, depending how you look at it, they go back to school today and so not as much bread will be eaten.

We love food. It’s probably why, despite the baby being darn near, two, I’m still carrying the extra 10/20 pounds. I like to cook for the most part. My family isn’t that excited about many of the things I try and make. My husband specifically has issue with meals without meat. I try and avoid those now. But one this we love is guacamole and they say I am pretty darn good at it around here. I might even be the best.

I don’t really have a “recipe” but here is how I make it.

What you need:

5/6 ripe avocados

1 medium size plum tomato, chopped

1 medium size red onion, chopped

1 medium size jalapeno, chopped and seeded or if you like heat, leave the seeds in

2-4 limes, fresh

Cilantro

Garlic, cloves or if you’re like me, in a jar

Salt

Garlic Salt

Cut and peel avocados. Add remaining ingredients and mash with a masher. Stir in lime, salt and garlic salt to taste. Easy.

I tend to use more garlic and lime because I like that tanginess but be sure to taste with the “vessel” you’ll be serving your guacamole with. A salty chip mixed with salt guacamole is a bad idea. So you have a fine line.

And eat it in one day, because I don’t care how many tricks are out there to keep it fresh, I think the metallic taste you get from old guacamole will ruin it as soon as a day after.

It’s our favorite. And I hope you like it too.

Food says “I love you” here. Knowing what keeps my little people’s bellies happy, makes me happy. I love teaching them how to mix and measure and finding out whether one likes coconut while another is more fond of banana. I love how knowing what they like, I can give them some personalized attention, with a cookie or a slice of warm bread or even a bowl of dip while we watch their favorite movies. And it’s these little bits of knowledge that I will tuck away for when they’re far away at college or wherever and need a tiny taste of home. I think food is a big part of happy family memories.

I fondly remember as a child going to my Grandma E’s house. She’s always have lemon cookies and cheese for your broccoli. We’d often have lunch together and talk. I can remember the first time she met my future husband. Twirling the thick noodles of The Blue Parrot and teasing him he needed to eat more. Many of my memories of her are tied to food. And all are good, wholesome and love filled. From pizzelles to Furr’s Cafeteria to a half baked meatloaf my mom made, she finished and we shared to celebrate the birth of my sister. I miss her very much.

Fond memories and food. Such good things. What are your fondest recipes and the memories that go with them?

Hi! I’m Gail, the voice behind Mimicking Motherhood. I started blogging after the birth of my 2nd child as a way to connect with far away family. Things have definitely changed since then. Now, mama to five, this is a place to help connect with other mothers, who feel like me.I love to make and write all while trying to figure out how to be myself in the world of anxiety and depression. Glad you stopped by.